Lab-made solid phase microextraction phases for off line extraction and direct mass spectrometry analysis: Evaluating the extraction parameters.

The analyses of drugs and metabolites in complex matrices have been widely studied in recent years. However, due to high levels endogenous compounds and matrix complexity, these analyses require a sample pre-treatment step. To this aim, two lab-made extractive phases were integrated to probe electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (PESI-MS) technique for direct analysis of illicit drugs in biological fluids and phorbol esters in Jatropha curcas extract. The polypyrrole (PPy) phase was electropolymerized onto a platinum wire surface by cyclic voltammetry. The molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesized and adhered onto a stainless-steel needle with epoxy resin. The PPy-PESI-MS method showed to be linear in a concentration range from 1 to 500 µg L-1, with accuracy values between -2.1 and 14%, and precision values between 0.8 and 10.8%. The MIP-PESI-MS method showed to be linear in a concentration range from 0.9 to 30 mg L-1, with accuracy values between -1.6 and -15.3%, and precision values between 4.1 and 13.5%.

Lesiones inducidas por la aplicación tópica de cocaína / Lesions of the oral mucosa in cocaine users who apply the drug topically

El uso y abuso de cocaína es un fenómeno en continuo crecimiento en nuestra sociedad y cada vez se evidencian más los problemas relacionados con la utilización de esta droga. La cocaína puede ser utilizada de varias formas y sus efectos sobre la cavidad oral varían según la vía de administración. El objetivo de este artículo es presentar las lesiones, en cuatro pacientes, que surgen como consecuencia de la aplicación tópica de cocaína sobre la mucosa alveolar y nasal con la finalidad de aliviar el dolor producido por algias faciales, tipo cefaleas en racimos. Esa práctica ha producido lesiones eritematosas en tres de estos pacientes y rápida recesión gingival y secuestro óseo en otro de ellos. El potencial vasoconstrictor de la cocaína, asociado con el efecto cáustico de la droga sobre la mucosa, son probablemente los factores responsables de estas lesiones (AU)

Farmacología de la cocaína

Revisión de la farmacognosia, farmacocinética, mecanismo de acción, efectos agudos y crónicos de la cocaína.

Identification and quantitation of alkaloids in coca tea.

The consumption of coca tea is a common occurrence in many South American countries. The tea is often packaged in individual servings as tea bags which contain approximately 1 g of plant material. The consumption of coca tea leads to ingestion of cocaine and other alkaloids; however, there is little information available regarding the pharmacological or toxicological effects that result from consumption of coca tea. We performed a series of studies with coca tea bags from two South American countries, Peru and Bolivia. The alkaloidal content of the 'coca leaf' in coca tea bags was determined by two different extraction methods: Soxhlet extraction with methanol (exhaustive extraction), and mechanical agitation with methanol. Extracts were purified by solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Coca tea prepared from Peruvian and Bolivian coca tea bags was also analyzed by SPE-GC/MS assay. In addition, urine specimens were analyzed from an individual who consumed one cup of Peruvian coca tea and one cup of Bolivian coca tea on separate occasions. Urine samples were analyzed by immunoassay (TDx) and SPE-GC/MS. Analysis of coca tea bags and coca tea indicated that cocaine, benzoylecgonine, ecgonine methyl ester and trans-cinnamoylcocaine were present in varying quantities. With exhaustive extraction, an average of 5.11 mg, and 4.86 mg of cocaine per tea bag were found in coca leaf from Peru and Bolivia, respectively. The average amounts of benzoylecgonine, ecgonine methyl ester in Peruvian coca leaf were 0.11 and 1.15 mg, and in Bolivian coca leaf were 0.12 and 2.93 mg per tea bag, respectively. trans-cinnamoylcocaine was found in trace amounts in Peruvian tea bags and 0.16 mg/tea bag of Bolivian tea. When tea was prepared, an average of 4.14 mg of cocaine was present in a cup of Peruvian coca tea and 4.29 mg of cocaine was present in Bolivian tea. Following the consumption of a cup of Peruvian tea by one individual, a peak urine benzoylecgonine concentration of 3940 ng/ml occurred 10 h after ingestion. Consumption of Bolivian coca tea resulted in a peak benzoylecgonine concentration of 4979 ng/ml at 3.5 h. The cumulative urinary excretion of benzoylecgonine after approximately 48 h, determined by GC/MS, was 3.11 mg and 2.69 mg after consumption of Peruvian and Bolivian coca tea, respectively. This study demonstrated that coca tea bags and coca tea contain a significant amount of cocaine and cocaine-related alkaloids and the consumption of a single cup of Peruvian or Bolivian coca tea produces positive drug test results for cocaine metabolites.

Detection and determination of pseudococaine in coca leaves and illicit cocaine samples.

Methodology is presented for the isolation, identification and determination of pseudococaine in coca leaves and illicit cocaine. Coca leaves, crude cocaine base (coca paste), refined cocaine base and refined cocaine hydrochloride, all derived from the same geographic location in Bolivia, were examined. Pseudococaine and other coca alkaloids were isolated from leaf samples using toluene extraction followed by acid/Celite trap and ion-pair column chromatography, and from crude and refined cocaine samples by acid/Celite column ion-pairing chromatography. Mass spectral analysis of coca leaf isolates confirmed the presence of pseudococaine. Pseudococaine was quantified by capillary gas chromatography with flame ionization detection at levels of 0.0001-0.035% (relative to cocaine) in refined illicit cocaine and coca leaves.

Manual practico clinico terapeutico para las intoxicaciones agudas / Manual practices clinical therapeutic for the sharp intoxications

Contiene: Epidemiologia y prevencion,bases terapeuticas en las intoxicaciones agudas, antidotos locales, procedimiento para la excrecion del toxico, tratamiento sintomatico y de sosten cuadros de enlace,antidotos y antogenistas, intoxicaciones del sistema nervioso central, intoxicaciones del sistema nervioso autonomo, intoxicaciones medicamentosas, accidentes terapeuticos, toxicos domesticos, plaguicadas

Topics in the chemistry of cocaine.

Literature concerning the taxonomy and alkaloid content of the coca plant is examined in this article. The process used to extract cocaine alkaloids from the plant is described and information relating to the constituents of illicitly processed cocaine reported. Investigations into the stereochemistry of cocaine resulting from United States laws controlling such drugs are reviewed. Advances in presumptive tests for cocaine are described and some comments are made relative to trends in chromatographic analysis.